2022 Good Friday
Gathering
We gather in silence.
HYMN: WOV 668 There In God’s Garden
CENTERING PRAYER – written by Laura Turnbull, Penticton, BC
Eternal God, we have come to honour Jesus Christ. It is a day of remembering and holding fast to truths of faithful living. May this sacred time evoke a deep sense of awe. Let not our heartache overshadow the majesty of your everlasting love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Readings and psalm:
First Reading: Isaiah 52:13–53:12
The fourth servant poem promises ultimate vindication for the servant, who made his life an offering for sin. The servant pours himself out to death and is numbered with the transgressors, images that the early church saw as important keys for understanding the death of Jesus.
13See, my servant shall prosper;
he shall be exalted and lifted up,
and shall be very high.
14Just as there were many who were astonished at him
—so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of mortals—
15so he shall startle many nations;
kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which had not been told them they shall see,
and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.
53:1Who has believed what we have heard?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3He was despised and rejected by others;
a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him of no account.
4Surely he has borne our infirmities
and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted him stricken,
struck down by God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions,
crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the punishment that made us whole,
and by his bruises we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
Who could have imagined his future?
For he was cut off from the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people.
9They made his grave with the wicked
and his tomb with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain.
When you make his life an offering for sin,
he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days;
through him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
11Out of his anguish he shall see light;
he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge.
The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because he poured out himself to death,
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Psalm: Psalm 22
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Ps. 22:1)
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?
2My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer;
by night, but I find no rest.
3Yet you are the Holy One,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4Our ancestors put their trust in you,
they trusted, and you rescued them. R
5They cried out to you and were delivered;
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
6But as for me, I am a worm and not human,
scorned by all and despised by the people.
7All who see me laugh me to scorn;
they curl their lips; they shake their heads.
8“Trust in the Lord; let the Lord deliver;
let God rescue him if God so delights in him.” R
9Yet you are the one who drew me forth from the womb,
and kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born;
you were my God when I was still in my mother’s womb.
11Be not far from me, for trouble is near,
and there is no one to help.
12Many young bulls encircle me;
strong bulls of Bashan surround me. R
13They open wide their jaws at me,
like a slashing and roaring lion.
14I am poured out like water; all my bones are out of joint;
my heart within my breast is melting wax.
15My strength is dried up like a potsherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
and you have laid me in the dust of death.
16Packs of dogs close me in, a band of evildoers circles round me;
they pierce my hands and my feet. R
17I can count all my bones
while they stare at me and gloat.
18They divide my garments among them;
for my clothing, they cast lots.
19But you, O Lord, be not far away;
O my help, hasten to my aid.
20Deliver me from the sword,
my life from the power of the dog.
21Save me from the lion’s mouth!
From the horns of wild bulls you have rescued me.
22I will declare your name to my people;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you. R
23You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
Stand in awe of the Lord, all you offspring of Israel.
24For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the Lord’s face hidden from them;
but when they cry out, the Lord hears them.
25From you comes my praise in the great assembly;
I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the Lord.
26The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
Let those who seek the Lord give praise! May your hearts live forever!
27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord;
all the families of nations shall bow before God.
28For dominion belongs to the Lord,
who rules over the nations. R
29Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship;
all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before the Lord.
30Their descendants shall serve the Lord,
whom they shall proclaim to generations to come.
31They shall proclaim God’s deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying to them, “The Lord has acted!” R
Second Reading (alternate): Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
In his death Jesus functions as great high priest who experiences temptation and suffering in order that we would receive mercy and find grace, because he is the source of true salvation.
14Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
5:7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
The Passion Story and Prayers for Good Friday
Prepared by Murray Pruden, Indigenous Minister for Pacific Mountain Region
The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus (John 18:1–11)
After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”
Prayer
Creator, as we start this path with Jesus, give us the moments to reflect within and around us. Allow us to make sense of those moments of what was, is, and is to become. Guide us as we go together with you and others on this Passion story that we tell every Good Friday. Let us be reminded that without darkness, we cannot see the light; that without the seed, a tree will not grow. Give us the strength to overcome.
As we reflect on the betrayal of Jesus, we reflect on betrayal we may have lived through in our lives as well. We pause and take the time to remember, search, breathe, and then let go… “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” Give us the ability to let go as Jesus has asked us to.
Amen.
Jesus before the High Priest (John 18:12–14)
So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.
Prayer
My God, there are many judgements amongst humankind. Many times we react rather than stop, pause, and reflect on what we believe is the truth. Today, my God, grant us the blessing of patience and resolve to not only speak our truth but also to live it and look upon others in the same blessed way. Let us live in wisdom so that no one would have to die for our truth but instead will live for our love. Amen.
Peter Denies Jesus (John 18:15–18)
Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.
Prayer
Holy One, there have been times in our lives when we have neglected knowing you. We have had moments when we may have felt embarrassed, nervous, or shameful to speak of who we truly are as individuals, families, friends, communities, and society. We got scared to speak of who you created us to be. Forgive us. Give us the courage to stand up to be what is right in this world so that others can live in a world of safety. Let us support one another in good ways and speak with gratitude and honesty.
Amen.
The High Priest Questions Jesus (John 18:19–24)
Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
Prayer
God, give me the heart to listen. Grant me the words to tell others of what is true. Settle the anger, hurt, and sorrow that I may keep in my heart. And release the goodness that you created in me to others in order to create the peace that is needed in these times of judgement. Our truths are not wrong but are a lesson to what you have asked to be—a path to your love. Thank you. Amen.
Peter Denies Jesus Again (John 18:25–27)
Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.
Prayer
Great Spirit, there are times when we deny ourselves the truth. As Peter in the Passion story denies his relationship with Jesus, we, too, have denied, at times in our lives, our relationship with you, Great Spirit. Forgive us. Simply forgive us for denying this relationship with the Spirit. We are your children; we are learning; and we will grow from our mistakes, from our shame, and from our lack of confidence to be the loving creations that you made us to truly be. Give us courage, dear Great Spirit. Let this blessing rain upon us all. Amen.
Jesus before Pilate (John 18:28–38)
Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
Prayer
Creator of Heaven and Earth, we come to you asking this question: “What is truth?” As we travel forward in this time of our lives, we observe many changes and actions of others that we may not always agree with. Allow us to see the truth in the changes in our world and act in ways that are for the well-being of those experiencing these changes. This may give us the answer to the truth we seek in our lives. It may also bring us to peace with the changes in the world we live in. Let your truth, Creator, be our hope. Amen.
Jesus Sentenced to Death (John 18:38—19:16)
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”
Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”
When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
Prayer
Loving God, many times we cry over the injustices of this world. We get discouraged and frustrated from the harm we see around us. And in many instances we, too, are guilty of these injustices, sometimes without realizing it. Calm our spirits from these patterns of behaviour and give us a renewed thought and observation of these injustices. Place in our hands a new gift of life—a way of forgiveness, understanding, and loving creation. Allow us to be encouragement and peace during times of harm and hate. And, together with our siblings in the Spirit, we can be the path to loving one another, the commandment that Jesus left us. In loving companionship, Amen.
The Crucifixion of Jesus (John 19:16–30)
So, they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
“They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.”
And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.
After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So, they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Prayer
Great Mystery, hear my prayer, from my heart and mind in silence, as I reflect on the crucifixion of Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to enter my temple as I remember the journey Jesus Christ has taken. Let this be a moment for you, Great Mystery, to guide me to what I need to receive in my life so that I understand a little more of my path and your creation.
(Observe a moment of silence.)
Presider: It is finished.
Congregation: Amen.
Jesus’ Side Is Pierced (John 19:31–37)
Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So, they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) 36 These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
Prayer
Dear God, let your miracle live through us as passionate people of your word. You have given us great wisdom and understanding to be miracles in this world. We are witnesses of the cross; we are witnesses of the truth. We are the miracle that will go forward and help the world during its time of sorrow, its time of need, and its time of change.
Bless us with the will to be a better people—a people that has the vision, the ability, the knowledge, the understanding, and the breath to continue this great journey of life. Through the harshness and through the triumphs we will be the commandment of Jesus. We will be the will and the love—the promise to our world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Burial of Jesus (John 19:38–42)
After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so, he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden, there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Prayer: An Indian Prayer by Chief Yellow Lark, Lakota
Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds.
And whose breath gives life to all the world.
Hear me! I am small and weak.
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes
Ever hold the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have made.
My ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
The things you might teach me.
Let me learn the lessons you have hidden
In every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother.
But to fight my greatest enemy, myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
With clear hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset.
My spirit may come to you without shame. Amen.
hymn: VU 436 Abide With Me
Sermon
In the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling, Lord Voldemort is an evil wizard bent on destroying everything good. He is so feared that most characters refuse to speak his name, calling him “He-who-must-not-be-named.” This, of course, gives Voldemort more, not less, power. How does our avoidance of hard topics and images, like the crucifixion, give the negative more power in our lives? Why is it so often difficult to convince people of the importance and power of worshiping on Good Friday?
People whisper words, as though by not saying them out loud they will have no power. I am guessing you have heard people say, “You know he has cancer…,” whispering that last word in the hope that it is not true.
Good Friday is a day most people would rather whisper. It is a day we would rather not face, for it reminds us of the painful truth: Jesus was crucified, suffered and died. Those words are tolerable when they are followed with “and on the third day was raised” — but not today. Today we stop at the foot of the cross with the grieving women.
Good Friday is a day of powerful truths we would rather avoid or ignore. Like those who put off preparing their taxes because they know there is a big bill coming, or the smoker who avoids the doctor knowing the lecture is coming, it is tempting to avoid this day. For pastors it is tempting to skip over the hard despair and grief of the day and point right to Easter Sunday.
But the words of Scripture this day lay it all bare, even if we do not. We still have Isaiah telling us about the suffering servant and St. John laying the crucifixion before us, in all its injustice and horror. This is a day of hard truths. This Jesus we worship and adore has been abandoned by everyone, including, it seems, God. This Jesus we love is also the Jesus from whom we run when he asks too much, and sometimes the hardest word of all to hear is the word of forgiveness and mercy. Those hard words are in the cross as well.
In the gospel passion narratives, very little is said about Jesus’ physical pain and agony. This is especially the case with the Gospel of John. It’s as if what we are meant to feel is not the whip of cords, the nails, or the spear, but the emotional pain: the betrayal, the abandonment, the isolation, the public humiliation. If Jesus’ physical pain in crucifixion were all this story was about, then the passion of Jesus might feel somewhat distant to us and our experience of life. Hopefully none of us will undergo any kind of physical torture akin to crucifixion, but we have all experienced emotional pain. We don’t tell this story on this most solemn of days to imagine Jesus’ physical pain. Instead, we tell it in order to see our pain bound up in his—the kind of pain we are feeling right now, in whatever form we are feeling it.
There is no human suffering that is not felt by God on the cross. There is no pain or loss that is not pulled into God’s heart. There is no kind of death that doesn’t die with Jesus. And therefore, we don’t approach the cross from a place of fear or shame, but with boldness.
Each Holy Week we encounter two biblical accounts of the passion and death of Christ that offer quite different emphases. On Passion Sunday we heard a synoptic narrative that stresses the suffering of the man, Jesus. On this day of the death of Christ, we hear John’s passion narrative, in which Jesus, the Word of God, walks forward to his arrest—no kiss of Judas here—and the soldiers fall down before the I AM; he answers boldly to the high priest, debates with Pilate, wears a purple robe, arranges for the care of his mother, is served with hyssop, gives over his spirit when all is finished, and is buried as would be a king, with a hundred pounds of spices. These details tell the Christian meaning of the death of Jesus: Christ, who is God among us, reigns from the cross. John’s gospel offers us the way to proclaim that, on this day God died, and from divine death comes human life. To God alone be the glory. Amen.
Hymn: VU 144 Were You There?
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Procession of the Cross
The dialogue is said the first time at the beginning of the procession.
Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
The dialogue is said a second time at the midpoint of the procession.
Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
The dialogue is sung a third time at the end of the procession.
Behold the life-giving cross, on which was hung the Savior of the whole world.
Oh, come, let us worship him.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and we praise your holy resurrection,
for by your cross joy has come into the world.
May God be merciful and bless us;
may the light of God’s face shine upon us.
Let your way be known upon earth,
your saving health among all nations.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and we praise your holy resurrection,
for by your cross joy has come into the world.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
May God give us blessing,
and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe.
We glory in your cross, O Lord,
and we praise your holy resurrection,
for by your cross joy has come into the world.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
By your holy cross you have redeemed the world.
We depart in silence.